I’ve always liked a smashed ripe Avocado with some chilli flakes and squeeze of fresh lime on some toast – not necessarily sourdough!
However, after watching a short feature on Al Jazeera TV I might need to re-think food choices in solidarity with the village residents of Chile!
We are lucky to take safe drinking water as a human right in most parts of the world. Turn on the tap and there it is. We don’t think about it.
In some countries, water is naturally a scare resource. People are brought up to not squander it so there is enough for everyone.
Water Aid and many other charities have done amazing work ensuring unique water wells linked to children’s playgrounds to make fresh, safe drinking water from a well available and accessible to all.
But what struck me about the feature on Al Jazeera was water is not seen as a human right in Chile! Just let that sink in for a moment.
Instead, following privatisation in the early 80’s water is seen as a commodity to be brought, sold and even left in wills. Added to this the fact shared by Reuters that Chile is the third biggest producer of Avacados which take 1,000 litres of water to grow just 1 kilo! The mind boggles. How many kilos do families get through worldwide a day?
The residents of local villages have very limited access to water putting at risk their mental and physical health as well as their children’s.
It’s well documented how essential it is to stay hydrated. In the UK 6-8 glasses of water are recommended to be consumed each day. Elsewhere on internet search it varies around 2 litres
An activist group – Modatima – is trying to change the law to make access to fresh drinking water a right for all not just the few in Chile. One of their lead activists, Rodrigo Mundaca, has received death threats and regular harassment from the authorities. Rodrigo has even come under the protection of Amnesty International.
It seems unbelievable that we consume food without thinking about the possible impact on those living in the country that produced it.
What can we do? Rethink the impact on others of the food we choose to eat maybe?
Jane James's Consultancy Limited 